Motorcycle Rider Education
WHAT IS THE MOTORCYCLE RIDER EDUCATION (MRE) PROGRAM?
Iowa has a quality Motorcycle Rider Education (MRE) Program administered by the Iowa DOT's Driver & Identification Services. Iowa's MRE Program teaches Basic Rider Course (BRC), the Basic Rider Course II (BRC II), and the Advanced Rider Course (ARC) of the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF). The BRC has a minimum of 15 hours of core instruction — five hours spent in the classroom in preparation for 10 hours of range activities. The BRC II has a minimum of five hours — most of which are spent on the range. The ARC is a one-day course designed to build on the rider’s basic skills to prove overall riding. It includes a fast-paced classroom segment with several fun interactive activities to improve perception and hazard awareness. Range exercises enhance both basic operating skills and crash-avoidance skills. Helps to improve the rider’s braking and cornering finesse. You must successfully pass a knowledge test, as well as a skill test to receive a certificate of completion.
Basic skills taught include:
- Mental preparedness.
- Perception development.
- Situational awareness.
- Risk evaluation & evasive strategies.
- Riding in a straight line.
- Turning.
- Shifting.
- Stopping.
The next level of instruction is the application of these basic skills to on-street riding conditions.
who teaches it?
Only Iowa-licensed, MSF-certified rider coaches teach the BRC and BRC II programs.
who can or must take it?
Any person 14 years of age or older, whether licensed or not licensed for motorcycle, may take the course to learn, refresh or improve safe riding skills. The licensing skills test may be waived upon successful completion of the course.
Iowa Code section 321.180B requires any person under the age of 18 who wants a motorcycle license — valid for the operation of a motorcycle — to successfully complete the motorcycle rider education course before the motorcycle license will be issued.
what does it cost?
Motorcycle rider education in Iowa is supported in part by an additional fee of $2 per year for a motorcycle validations, a portion from the sale of MRE license plates and the balance comes from the student tuition. Your out-of-pocket cost, which varies by sponsor and course, ranges from $150-$349 for the Basic Rider Course and $75-$125 for the Basic Rider Course II or Returning Rider Basic Rider Course.
where can i take it?
The training season, somewhat weather dependent, varies throughout the state. However, the course is generally available from early April through mid-October.
Sponsors, sites and course registration telephone numbers are listed below.
| Sponsors
|
Locations
|
Courses Offered
|
| ABATE of Iowa Inc.
|
Algona
|
BRC, BRC2, 3WBRC, ARC
|
| ABATE of Iowa Inc.
|
Council Bluffs
|
BRC, BRC2, 3WBRC
|
| ABATE of Iowa Inc.
|
Hampton
|
BRC
|
| ABATE of Iowa Inc.
|
Pekin
|
BRC, BRC2
|
| ABATE of Iowa Inc.
|
Spirit Lake
|
BRC, BRC2
|
| ABATE of Iowa Inc.
|
Waterloo
|
BRC
|
| ABATE of Iowa Inc.
|
Cherokee
Clinton
Forest City
Marshalltown
Ogden
|
BRC, BRCII, 3WBRC, ARC
|
| Bandy Motorcycle Training
|
North Liberty
|
BRC, BRCII
|
| Big Barn Harley Davidson
|
Des Moines
|
BRC
|
| Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC)
|
Ankeny
|
BRC, ARC, 3WBRC
|
| Eastern Iowa Community College District
|
Davenport
Muscatine
Clinton
|
BRC, BRCII
|
| Hawkeye Community College
|
Waterloo
|
BRC, 3WBRC
|
| Indian Hills Community College
|
Ottumwa
|
BRC
|
| Iowa Central Community College
|
Fort Dodge
|
BRC
|
| Iowa Lakes Community College
|
Spencer
|
BRC
|
| Iowa Valley Community College
|
Marshalltown
|
BRC
|
| Kirkwood Community College
|
Cedar Rapids
Iowa City
|
BRC, BRCII, 3WBRC
|
| Loess Hills Harley Davidson
|
Pacific Junction
|
BRC, BRCII, ARC, 3WBRC
|
| McGrath Hawkeye Harley Davidson
|
Coralville
|
BRC
|
| Northeast Iowa Community College - Calmar
|
Calmar
|
BRC
|
| Northeast Iowa Community College - Peosta
|
Peosta
|
BRC
|
| Northwest Iowa Community College
|
Sheldon
|
BRC
|
| Southeastern Iowa Community College
|
West Burlington
|
BRC, BRC II
|
| Southwestern Community College
|
Creston
|
BRC
|
| Western Iowa Tech Community College
|
Sioux City
|
BRC
|
Guide to Motorcycle Rider Education Course Names:
BRC= Basic Rider Course
BRCII = Basic Rider Course Two (or “Experienced Rider Course”)
ARC = Advanced Rider Course
3WBRC = 3-Wheel Basic Rider Course
For more detailed descriptions of these courses, visit the
Motorcycle Safety Foundation's website.